Direction-indicator for automobiles



B. SUTTON. DIRECTION INDICATOR' FOR AUTOMBILES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25. 1.91.7.

Patented June 15, 1926.

TJIWIIIIIIIIIIC ZJ f /ZZ UNITED STATES PATENT oiFFicE.

DIRECTION -INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

This invention relates to signaling devices 4 and is directed more particularly to an appliance for automobiles and other vehicles by which an appropriate Signal may be given to indicate the intention of `the op erator of the vehicle as to whether he is going to turn, stop, etc.

An object of the Apresent invention `resides in the provision of a simple and highly etlicientappliance of the above character which may be conveniently attached to automobiles generally without altering their construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a signal device whichwhen' applied will cooperate withl "the `usual ytail `light of the automobile whereby it may be utilized at night to signify the intended movements of the vehicle.

lith the above and other objects of similar nature in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing z- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the body oi' a motor vehicle equipped with my invention, parts being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof illustrating the use of the device.

Fig. 3 is a detail view looking into the open side of the housing.

Fig. l is a bottom plan view of the housing and the related mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, there is shown in conventional manner the body 10 of an automobile to which the invention is applied. Speciically the appliance consists of a box or casing 11 which includes a pair of spaced parallel frame members 12 of inverted U- shape that are inclosed by and have secured Speccaton of LettersiPatent. Patented June 15 1929. Application inea Api-n 25, 19117. sei-iai No. 164,476.

thereto a housing plate 13. The bottom and onev side oi the casing are open as clearly illustrated while arranged between and at right angles to the legsof the frame members 12 is a bracket 14, said bracket being also ot U-shape andheld lixedly in place by bolts passed therethrough and through the free ends of the menibers712. `Extending transversely between the legs of the bracket 14.- is a bolt 15 upon which is pivotally mounted a plurality oi bell-crank levers 1G, said'levers being spaced from theL `legs .of rthe bracket and from heach other by washers 1T. The arms of each lever stand at an obtuse angle to each other, being spaced about 1350; and f the upper or inner arms carry indicator plates 18 said plates being provided with such designations as L, R, and S which rep-- resent respectively left, right, and stop as denoting the intended movements of the vehicle with which the appliance is associated. The plates are normally housed withinthe casing andare so held by coil springs 19, corresponding ends ot which are connected `to the levers 16 and to hooks 20 carried by the `bight jporti'on of the bracket 1li.` l 1 In order to limit movement of the plates 18 into and out of the casing there is provided a stop bar 21 having angularly directed ends 22 extending between the free Vends of the bracket 14 and the adjacent frame member 12 and secured by means of one of the bolts 23. As seen in Fig. 5, this bar 21 stands in such relation to the pivot bolt 15 that when the inner arm of the bellcrank lever stands upright and the plate 18 is housed, the outer or lower arm is drawn against the inner edge of the bar 21 by the spring 19. But when the lever is swung on its pivot to a position where the plate 18 is exposed as seen in dotted lines, each arm moves through a path of about and the inner arm rests upon the bar 21-the latter thus serving as a stop to check the movement oi' the bell-crank lever in either direction. For supporting the casing 11 and its related mechanism from the rear of the vehicle body, an arm 24 is provided which is fixed to one leg of the bracket and detachably secured by bolts 25 to the body as clearly shown. For the purpose of actuating the indicator plates so that they maybe displayed selectively to the occupants of vehicles in the rear and advise them of the intention to adjacent its bight portion and Vdependthere-v from to pivotally mount a plurality of rollers stop orto turn, either to the right or to the left, the following. mechanism is utilized: Angle plates26 ,are fixed to the bracket 14 27 corresponding to the number of the plates' 18 and each having trained therearound a cable 28 that is connected to the outerarm of the related bell-crank lever. 28V are passed over the rollers 27 forwardly beneath the body of. the vehicle and connected each toa lever 29 pivotally supported lin a frame 30 located within convenient reach lofl the drivers seat. Y Thus by operat` ing the desired lever 29, one of the plates 18 is caused to swing outwardly of the casing and in a position to be plainly seenby, per sons located to the rear of the vehicle so that the necessaryprecautions may bel taken as will be evidentg p l j As it ismy :purpose to employ the above described meehanismby night as well as by day, the arm 24 is so attached to the ma-V chine and the casing il so positionedl ad*L Y dicator including a casing, a plurality of in-v These cables.

motor vehicle dicator plates mounted on bell crank levers pi'voted in the casingand selectively movable outwardly thereof and into thev path of the light rays from the tail light, said plates be ing provided with perforated designations through which the light rays will project, a single stop fixed to the casing for engagement by the respective arms of the bell-crank levers to limit movement of the latter in either direction, and actuating means connected independently with the bellcrank levers. l v Y 1 2. A directionl indicator forpmotor ve-` hicles comprising a casing open at its bot'- tom and one side, a pivot bolt across said bottom, a series of obtuse-angled bell-crank levers pivoted at their angles ongsaid bolt with their inner arms carrying indicators and their outer arms standing belowsaid casing, manually operable means connected with the outer arms for swinging the levers selectively to move their respective indicators out-of the casing, springs drawing said inner armsnormally upwardto house their indicators, andV a'stop bar iXedly carried by the casing parallel with said pivot bolt and disposed in position to be struck by the inner arm when it stands horizontal or be struck by the outer armrwhen the inner arm stands vertical.l Y In testimony whereof, l affix my signature in the presencevof two witnesses.

BIRT SUTTON.

Witnesses Y D. C. BURDGE, E. HfSUNDsTRoivn 

